The High Point Police Department Tactical Team will upgrade the equipment it uses when called upon to rescue a hostage or to respond to other high-risk operations.

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Following recent City Council approval, the department will purchase a Lenco BearCat armored rescue/response vehicle from Lenco Armored Vehicles of Pittsfield, Mass. for $241,865.

The department will use federal forfeiture funds that were seized in connection with drug cases to pay for the vehicle.

Police currently are using a 1981 Chrysler PeaceKeeper armored vehicle that was acquired through a military surplus program. Officials said it’s no longer mechanically sound or dependable and its armor rating is substandard for protecting officers.

“We’ve had it in service more than 15 years. It’s outlived its useful life. More than once, we’ve taken it to a scene and had to tow it back to the garage,” said High Point Police Chief Marty Sumner. “This is something we’ve been wanting to try to replace for years, but obviously because of the cost, we really couldn’t do it. We couldn’t find grant money for it, and there wasn’t any way, really, we were going to get that in regular budgeted funds.”

Police use the vehicle about once a month to respond to situations where someone has taken a hostage and barricaded themselves inside a building. It also can be used in responding to a scene involving an active shooter. The vehicle is most commonly used to serve high-risk warrants, such as search warrants involving places in which weapons are located, or to serve an arrest warrant on a murder suspect, Sumner said.

“As far as it being a rescue vehicle and providing a team of up to 10 a way to get right on a vehicle or right up to a house without having to worry about taking fire, it’s invaluable when you do need it,” he said.

Police officials said it would not be feasible to acquire a used vehicle because it would be difficult to find one that meets the specifications of the department’s needs, he said.

“We looked at other options,” Sumner said. “Personally, because my team had waited more than 20 years to replace that vehicle, and with the difficulty of finding something (designed) the way they wanted it, I was in favor of going for a new vehicle.”

Forfeiture funds are divided between federal and local agencies and must be used for law enforcement training or equipment. The funds generally can’t be used for personnel costs, such as salaries, although there are allowances to pay overtime for certain things.